Parents' Guide to

Lethal Weapon (TV Series)

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Action-packed remake is surprisingly enjoyable but violent.

TV Fox Drama 2016
Lethal Weapon (TV Series) Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 14+

Based on 6 parent reviews

RichManGold
RichManGold Adult
December 20, 2020
age 13+
nuenjins
nuenjins Parent
October 7, 2017
age 16+

A classic throwback to the cheesy buddy cop movies, in good AND bad ways.

The casting actually couldn't be better. Damon and partner have the bickering bromance thing down from the git. It has just enough romantic junk for mom and the sprinkling of comedy throughout keeps it fresh. The down sides are the heaping helpings of action cheese and face palm moments that are often poorly conceived and executed with the grace of a Bugs Bunny bit. Don't exspect too much, just some mindless fun and a few laughs. Some sexual banter and revealing bikini type scenes, but older teens should be fine.
See all 6 parent reviews

What's the Story?

LETHAL WEAPON, a TV reboot of the classic film franchise of the same name, features two mismatched police detectives working together to solve crimes in and around Los Angeles. Damon Wayans plays Roger Murtaugh, an uptight Los Angeles detective, husband, and father who has just returned to work after suffering a major heart attack. He is partnered with Martin Riggs (Clayne Crawford), a former Navy Seal struggling with a major personal loss and who is willing to break the rules and take personal risks to get the bad guys. Working together has its challenges, as Captain Brooks Avery (Kevin Rahm) will attest to, but somehow they find a way to make it work.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (6):
Kids say (6):

Full of fast cars, big guns, and crazy maneuvers, Lethal Weapon effectively mixes action-packed sequences with well-timed humor and occasional moments of tear-jerking emotion. Like the original rendition of Riggs and Murdaugh (originally played by Mel Gibson and Danny Glover), the pair's endless sparring fosters a relationship that's based on real friendship as well as professional loyalty.

LETHAL WEAPON is violent, and the crimes featured are in step with the issues of the day. But fans of the original will find something nostalgic and entertaining here. Meanwhile, folks looking for an explosive series to commit to will be easily drawn to the modernized version of this classic story world. The bottom line? It's a surprisingly well-written, well-produced remake that is really fun to watch.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about violence in the media and in shows such as Lethal Weapon. Many popular films and TV shows feature lots of violent sequences as a way of being entertaining. What kind of impact does this have on how we see the world around us?

  • Teens smoking marijuana (and other substances) is often treated as normal behavior in the media. Is it in real life? How can we help kids understand these representations, as well as the consequences of these actions?

TV Details

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